The Mayor of London today voiced his support for a campaign which aims to get
business to commit more money to education, both globally and in the UK

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, today voiced his support for a campaign which aims to get businesses to commit more money to supporting education systems across the globe.

Speaking to corporate executives and education professionals at a summit in City Hall, Mr Johnson urged business leaders to “step up” to the challenge, saying that business could become part of the solution to the skills shortage currently facing the UK.

“The pace of growth in London is putting huge demands on our labour market. 66 per cent of businesses surveyed by the CBI said that they struggled to recruit skilled employees, with 45 per cent saying there was a skills shortage in the Capital.”

The Mayor pointed out that, while unemployment is on the decrease, 11 per cent of young people in London are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), which he labelled a “disgrace.”

“These young people are full of natural potential and talent,” he said. “That talent is being wasted because it is not being properly disciplined and brought out.

“As a society, we are failing to prepare kids for the reality of the jobs market. The educational system is making progress, but I urge all businesses to go further.”

According to a new report, published today at the Business Backs Education summit, only 9 per cent of the total UK business corporate social responsibility (CSR) budget goes toward education. Of this, only 20 per cent goes to “priority areas” where need is deemed the greatest.

The campaign – which is being led by UNESCO, the Varkey GEMS Foundation, and Dubai Cares – is calling for all businesses to commit 20 per cent of their CSR budget to education by 2020; making sure that areas with the greatest need are not forgotten.

The report claims that committing 20 per cent would more than double the existing CSR budget from $307m to $650m, enabling 750,000 additional children per year worldwide to study in primary school.

Irina Bokova, director general of UNESCO, also voiced her support for the initiative saying that the campaign will help to “put the spotlight on education”. Especially, she continued, in conflict areas and in places where “education is under attack.”

“Education is essential for a sustainable future, for peace, for social mobility, for responding to conflict and for the future of humanity,” said Ms Bokova.

“There are 70 million children out of education, and 250 million children who don’t know the basics of learning. The education community shouldn’t discuss this alone, the business community are critical in helping to come up with solutions.”

“Education needs business, but business also needs education. We need to give the growing young population the skills they need to succeed and meet the needs of the global economy.”

Aside from global education in areas of need, the campaign also highlights the importance of business working alongside schools in the UK to help raise aspirations through careers guidance, apprenticeships, work placements and support within the schools.

Munira Mirza, Deputy Mayor for Education and Culture of London, said that to continue to build a strong education system, there needed to be strong public and private sector investment.

“Business can play a really important role in supporting young people,” she said. “We need to raise the status of education. It needs to be as much on the global agenda as health care and climate.”

Nick Gibb, minister of state at the Department for Education, said: “We have revised the national curriculum and strengthened qualifications. Now we are trying to get our schools to equip pupils with the skills they need to succeed in business.

“We need employers to get involved to deliver the best careers advice in schools and to help us staff governing bodies across the UK to help promote this partnership.”